27-6-2023 (HANOI) On the morning of June 27, the funeral ceremony for the late former Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Khoan was held according to state protocol at the National Funeral Home, located at 5 Trần Thánh Tông Street.
At 8 a.m., President Võ Văn Thưởng, National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ, Permanent Member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Trương Thị Mai, and Deputy Prime Minister Lê Minh Khái led delegations to pay their respects to the late Deputy Prime Minister.
General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính sent wreaths of flowers. President Võ Văn Thưởng wrote in the funeral register, “We deeply mourn Comrade Vũ Khoan, former Party Central Committee member, former Deputy Prime Minister, and a leader who made significant contributions to our country’s process of opening up, integration, renewal, and development. Comrade Vũ Khoan devoted himself entirely to the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party, the State, and our people.”
National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ expressed that former Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Khoan was “a shining example of integrity and talent, who made deserving contributions to the nation-building, defending the Fatherland, and international integration.”
“Comrade Vũ Khoan made significant contributions to our country, our nation, and the Party. He was always dedicated and served as a bright role model for future generations. Our country and the Party will forever remember his contributions,” wrote Permanent Member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Trương Thị Mai in the funeral register.
Present at the National Funeral Home early in the morning, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Phú Bình expressed his emotional sentiments, saying, “Mr. Vũ Khoan possessed exceptional talent in various fields and made substantial contributions to Vietnam’s process of international integration.”
In his roles as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Trade, and Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Vũ Khoan left a remarkable imprint on major negotiations such as Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), ASEAN membership, and the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). Alongside promoting international cooperation, Mr. Vũ Khoan also contributed significant ideas to amend the domestic legal system on economic and trade matters in accordance with WTO standards.
In addition to his positions in the government, Mr. Vũ Khoan was also a Party Central Committee member during the 7th to 9th terms, Party Central Committee Secretary during the 9th term, and a National Assembly delegate during the 11th and 12th terms. “Despite holding numerous responsibilities, he remained humble, modest, and approachable. He always made time for reading, research, and continued learning until his final moments,” said Mr. Bình.
Mr. Trần Nguyên Giáp, former Secretary of the late Prime Minister Phạm Văn Đồng, recalled memories with former Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Khoan, saying, “I have many memories with Mr. Vũ Khoan, especially in 1991 when Vietnam and China embarked on normalizing their relations. Mr. Vũ Khoan made many statements, raised important issues, and made profound contributions during the discussions, which greatly contributed to the normalization of relations between the two countries.”
Former Vietnamese Ambassador to the Middle East Nguyễn Quang Khai expressed his deep sorrow at the passing of Mr. Vũ Khoan, stating, “Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to the era, the country, and international issues.”
Former Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Khoan passed away at 7:05 a.m. on June 21 at the 108 Military Central Hospital in Hanoi, at the age of 86. The funeral procession for the late Deputy Prime Minister began at 1:30 p.m., followed by the burial at Mai Dịch Cemetery in Hanoi.
